Flexible vane and grille assemblies



June 11, 1963 Filed April 4, 1960 R. D. EMERY 3,093,060

FLEXIBLE VANE AND GRILLE ASSEMBLIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 HVVENTUR.

ROBERT Q EMERY ait WW ATTORNEYS June 11, 1963 R. D. EMERY FLEXIBLE VANE AND GRILLE ASSEMBLIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1960 lll lll INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. EME'RY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,093,066 FLEXIBLE VANE AND GRILLE ASSEMBLIES Robert D. Emery, Wiclrliife, Ghio, assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,565 7 Claims. (@l. %--11) Broadly, this invention relates to fluid deflecting means but more specifically pertains to a novel flexible deflector structure [which can be utilized in a grille for a heating or air conditioning device or the like.

In the past, grilles for heating devices or air conditioning units were constructed using a series of vanes or deflectors wherein the vanes were essentially formed as a pivotable member which could be independently operated or mounted in an arrangement such that the series of vanes could be actuated by an arm or cross-piece secured to a portion of each vane in the arrangement. It was also essential in past construction that a separate pivotable mounting be provided for each individual vane to facilitate the vane movement effected by the crosspiece or arm. Therefore, in grille assemblies it has been necessary in all of the units previously designed, in which the vanes were individually or collectively adjustable to vary the direction of fluid flow therebetween, to provide a pivotal connection between the vanes and a suitable frame on which the vanes could be mounted and thereby more readily actuated and controlled.

Applicant, in view of the above limitations and structural deficiencies has provided herein a novel one piece, fixed end, flexible vane structure incorporated into a novel grille assembly whereby the vanes can be actuated either by individually mounted means or by a novel arm or cross-piece structure. In this arrangement, the cross-piece structure is engageable with each vane of the series providing a unitary directional movement thereto and accordingly directs the flow of fluid between the vanes.

Applicant, to accomplish the above provisions has formed the vanes in a novel and distinct manner wherein one end thereof at which the structure can be secured to a suitable frame, is of substantial thickness providing suflicient area for securement with an associated frame structure. Adjacent the securing end portion is a neck portion substantially reduced in thickness from that of the end portion. Adjacent the neck portion is the other end of the wane structure which is of a substantially greater thickness than that of the neck portion of the vane. Therefore, due to the neck portion intermediate the end portions of the vane, the one end remote from the fixed end can be angularly repositioned about the base portion without pivoting the entire structure and accordingly redirect the flow of fluid between the vanes.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a one piece flexible vane structure which can be fixed at one end and still provide the desired angle of deflection of fluid passing therebetween through the utilization of the flexible characteristic of the structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide a one piece flexible vane structure which is composed of a resilient plastic or similar material enabling the flexing of the vane to be accomplished without permanent deformation thereof.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a one piece flexible vane structure which can be mounted and actuated either in a series or individual relationship whereby one end of the vane is fixed to a frame or housin g and the flexing of the structure is accomplished through the utilization of the inherent flexibility of the material and the structural design of the vane.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a one piece flexible vane structure wherein the vanes can be assembled in a unit comprising a series of substantially Vertical vanes formed in a portion of the assembly and a series of substantially horizontal vanes formed in another portion of the assembly whereby these portions can be arranged such that fluid flow between the vanes is directed first through a vertical set of vanes and secondly through a horizontal set of vanes, or vice versa, to provide a grille whereby a cross hatching eflect in directing the flow is encountered by the fluid due to the nature of the structural arrangement of the vanes in the assembly.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a one piece flexible vane which is simple in its design and therefore economical in its production and capable of being formed from a material whereby it is possible to mold a multiplicity of vanes in a one piece structural unit eliminating a vane assembly operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part of the specification and in which:

[FIGURE 1 is a sectional isometric view of the individual wane structure.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a grille assembly utilizing the vane structure disclosed in FIGURE 1 and as shown, illustrates a multiple assembly unit.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the grille assembly structure illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the grille assembly taken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the grille assembly [taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the grille assembly taken along lines '77 of FIGURE 5.

Referring directly to FIGURE 1, the vane structure 10 disclosed therein comprises a base portion 12 having an extended end portion 14 at each end thereof, a neck portion 16 and an end portion 18 disposed adjacent and integral with the neck portion 16. The configuration of the vane is designed so that the end portion 18 will be capable of angular movement through an are about the base portion 12 of the vane structure through the utilization of the flexible neck portion 16. The vane as illustrated, is shown in its unflexed position whereby the neck portion is formed substantially perpendicular to the base portion. The end portion 18 is formed at an acute angle with the neck portion and laterally off-set with respect to the base portion and has a pair of fluid deflecting surfaces 20 and 22 thereon. The formation of the angular relationship between the recited portions of the vane is to facilitate the molding operation and in particular, the withdrawing and mold release step thereof. The flexible neck portion 16 is reduced in cross-sectional'thickness with respect to the cross-sectional thickness of the base portion 12 and the end portion 14 and is deformable about a longitudinally extending axis that is parallel with planes coincident with the fluid deflecting surfaces 20 and 22, respectively.

The particular application of the vanestructure 10 necessitates the utilization of a material capable of withstanding use in a wide temperature range in which the cell or crystalline structure thereof will not readily break down to destroy its inherent characteristics. In a heater application, the material must be able to withstand high temperatures in a range as high as 200 210 F. while in an air conditioner application, it must be able to withstand low temperatures in the range as low as 0-5 F. A material capable of withstanding the extreme temperature difference is the commercially sold polypropylene.

Polypropylene as used herein must be molded in a temperature range specified by the plastic manufacturer thereof to obtain the inherent desired characteristics which are discussed hereinafter.

At the proper molding temperature range, polypropylene while having good heat and cold resistant qualities in a wide temperature range has three definite desirable characteristics which are referred to as a flectural modulus, flow rate and a stiffness of flexture. These characteristics are especially advantageous to applicant for the specific purposes which are herein set forth. The flectural modulus relates to the flexibility of the material and polypropylene accordingly is suitably flexible for the vane application. Further, the flow characteristics facilitate the molding of the vane to the desired configuration wherein the neck portion can be formed having a substantially lesser thickness than the end and base portions of the vane to consistently support same during the flexing thereof. The stiffness of flexture of the material provides therein a resilient characteristic which is somewhat undesirable in the vane and accordingly must be compensated for by additional structure in the grille assembly. This resilient quality of the material necessitates the provision of a means to maintain the vanes in the desired position when a change in the direction of fluid flow therebetween is completed. A description of this means will be described later in detail. While the resilient characteristic is not altogether desirable in the vane structure, the frame and vane elements in the manufacturing thereof can be molded in one piece units and this inherent characteristic aptly lends itself to the provision of a frame or housing for the vanes which is stable and as such, results in a rigid assembly presented in the form of a grille.

Thus the material utilized is one which essentially readily withstands a wide range of temperature variation before it will yield under load conditions and has a good flexture characteristic. Other materials which have these characteristics can be used, but to applicants knowledge polypropylene best satisfies the necessary requirements and accordingly, has formed the principal elements of the grille from this material.

FIGURE 2 and the sectional view FIGURE 3, illustrate a grille assembly which incorporates therein the novel structural configuration of the vane 10. The grille assembly 24 comprises a pair of frame or housing members 26 and 23 (more clearly shown in FIGURE 3) formed in a substantially rectangular shape having at the center portion thereof a fixed strut or support member 30 which substantially partitions the rectangular frame members into two parts. The arrangement of the vanes in these respective frames is such that a pair of sets or series of these vanes are axially spaced and disposed in a vertical direction between the longitudinal sides 32 and 34- and substantially parallel to the lateral sides 36 and 37 of the frame 28 and are secured thereto by the extended end portion 14 of the base 12 of each vane. A similar pair of series of vanes are axially spaced and disposed in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to the lateral sides 36 and 37 in the frame 26 and are secured at the extended end portions 14 of the base to the lateral sides 36 and 37 of frame 26 and the center strut or support member 30. The vanes may be secured to the frame sides and center strut either by a fusing operation or it is possible that the individual frames of the assembly and corresponding vanes can be formed in one molding operation.

The sections of the housing defining the horizontal vanes and the vertical vanes thus further divide the assembly into two separate units. The total assembly of the grille comprises two vertically positioned sets of vanes in one frame and two horizontally positioned sets of vanes in another frame. The combinations of the units can be varied and accordingly any desired arrangement can be provided. Applicant has structurally presented an arran gement of these units such that a pair of axially aligned vertically directed sets of vanes are arranged adjacent to a pair of horizontally directed sets of vanes to provide a pair of combination horizontally and vertically directed varied sub units.

In placing the frames in a parallel relationship, suitable means is provided which maintain the units secured together. Applicant has provided a set of four (only three showing) pins 38 formed from frame 26 and openings 40 formed in frame 28 whereby the oversized pins are forced into the slightly undersized openings (as disclosed in FIGURES 3 and 4) and thus secure the units together. The pins can be formed from the housing material and accordingly, eliminate the necessity of additional parts in the assembly operation.

In FIGURE 3 and particularly in FIGURE 7, it can be seen that the horizontal vanes are disposed adjacent to the vertical vanes in such a manner that the base portions 12 of the horizontal vanes directly intersect the vertical vanes at the end portions 18 thereof. The base portions 12 of the horizontal vanes are situated in a structural location such that the vertical vanes end portions 18 have a series of notches 42 therein to accommodate the lowermost section of the base portions 12 of the horizontal vanes. By the positioning of the vertical vanes with respect to the horizontal vanes or vice versa, it can be seen that the notching of the vertical vanes enables a grille assembly to have a substantially narrower width dimension and still eliminate any interference of the angular movement of the vertical vanes. In comparison, an assembly where to avoid interference between any angular movement of the vertical vanes with respect to the base portion of the horizontal vanes it would be necessary to space the two separate frames of the assembly to a noninterfering position; that is, the frames would have to have a width dimension whereby the vanes of the lowermost unit could be at a angle with respect to their base portions and still not interfere with the adjacent set of vanes. By providing this notch, the vertical vanes can be placed through any angular movement to the point of being directly 90 with respect to the base portion (as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3) and still not be obstructed by the base 12 of the horizontal vanes thus providing a more compact assembly. FIGURE 7 represents the structural arrangement of the vertical and horizontal vanes and clearly discloses therein the notched portion of the vertical vanes which, as illustrated, receives a section of the base portion therein of the horizontal vanes.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 7, to simultaneously actuate these vanes in a corresponding identical direction with one another, it is necessary to have therein a means of arranging the vanes such that the deflection of the fluid flowing therebetween will be in identical directions throughout the separate grille assemblies. To accomplish this purpose, a set of four actuator blades 44, 46, 48, 50 are utilized herein. A typical blade will be described as follows.

Blade 44 comprises a main body portion 52 disposed adjacent a lateral end portion of the frame 26 of the grille assembly so that it is arranged at the axial end portion of the horizontal series of vanes therein. The blade has a number of projections thereon in the form of cylindrical projections 54 and oblong shaped projections 56 whereby these projecting portions abut and engage the surfaces 20 and 22 of the vanes in the set so that the oblong projecting portions 56 as situated are disposed intermediate and abut a pair of vanes and the cylindrical projections 54 are positioned to engage one surface of a vane and thereby any movement to the actuator blade body portion 52 will correspondingly move the projections which in turn will redirect the direction of flow of fluid between the vanes through the angular arcuate movement of each end portion of all the vanes of the set. It is necessary in the formation of the blade that the number of projections of the grille assembly beneath the horizontal vanes of the frame 26 and actuator blade 59 is operable to arouately and angularly redirect the vertical vanes on the left hand portion of the frame 28.

To direct each of these vanes, it is necessary to independently actuate the actuator blade and to accomplish this, an index wheel 58 is secured to each actuator blade for the vertical set of vanes and an index wheel 60 is secured to the blade for each set of horizontal vanes. Each wheel has a series of projecting fingers 62 thereon which enable the operator to more readily grasp the wheel for actuation. The manner in which the wheels are fixed to their respective frames and to the actuator blades will be described later in detail.

It can be seen that any particular arrangement of these vanes can be utilized whereby it is possible to dispose the vertical vanes and the horizontal vanes such that they need not be at a 90 angle with one another but may be positioned in any angular relationship as long as actuating means can be positioned and adjusted to effect an identical direction of movement to each set of vanes or even an individual actuation Off the vanes, if so con structed, can be manged. For simplicity sake, the vane structures are shown in a 90 relationship with one ariother, that is, the horizontal and vertical vanes are at a 90 angular spacing. FIGURE 3 of the grille assembly illustrates the angular relationship of the vertical vanes with respect to the horizontal vanes and also indicates therein an end portion of the actuator blade 46 which is controlled by a corresponding index wheel 60 and as illustrated, a cylindrical projection 54 at one end of the blade is abutting surface of one of the horizontal vanes for redirecting same at the discretion of the operator. Index wheel 58 is also disclosed therein which actuates the blade 48 of frame 28 on the right hand portion of the grille assembly.

Further description of the operation of the actnator blades, the index wheels, and the method of redirecting the vanes as disclosed in the grille assembly will now be described and directed to a portion of the grille assembly limited strictly to one of the pair of horizontal series ct vanes disposed in frame 26. FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 disclose the above referred to portion of the grille assembly illustrating the actuator blade 44, the index wheel to, and the elements thereof which enable the operator to select the angular disposition of the end portion of each blade so as to direct the flow of fluid therebetween in the desired direction.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the grille assembly disclosed in FIGURE 3. In this view, the operation of the actuator blade 44 is accomplished by rotation of the index wheel 69 ina counterclockwise direction. A rivet 64 is disposed through an opening 66 formed in the index wheel 60 to provide the pivot point therefor. FIGURE 5 more clearly illustrates the manner in which the actuator blade and the index wheel are arranged. This is accomplished by the insertion of an index pin 68 into an opening 7 0 formed in the index Wheel, a guide 72 formed in the lateral end 37 of firarne 26 and an opening '74 formed in the central portion of the actuator blade. The index pin is operable to move in an :arcuate manner along with the wheel rotation as it rotates about rivet 64 such that it is necessary to dimension the opening 74 to facilitate the lateral movement of the pin with respect to the blade. In FIGURE 6, as illustrated, the index pin rides in the arcuate guide 72 formed in the end portion 37 of the firame 26. The cross sectional area of the index pin is also shown and it can be seen that upon rotation of the wheel 66, the pin 68 will ride guide 72 as the Wheel rotates about the rivet 64 and as such, will effect a lateral movement of the pin in the actuator blade. The lateral movement of the pin with respect to the blade is effected by a pair of slotted guideways 7 6 and 7 8 which are formed in the end portion 37 of the grille assembly and function to receive a pair of projecting portions and 82, respectively, which extend from the actuator blade at the side thereof oppositely disposed of the projecting portions 54 and 56 extending between the end portions of the vanes. These guidevvays receive the projecting portions 80 and 82 and upon movement or the actuator blade by the wheel rotation, a reciprocating motion is imparted to the blade through the utilization of the projection engagement with the guideways in the frame. Because of these projecting portions, the actuator blade is limited in its direction of movement to a horizontal reciprocatory motion.

As above mentioned, the arcuate movement of the index pin upon rotation of the index wheel results in a lateral movement of the pin with respect tothe blade and this movement is compensated for by the dimensioned opening 74 formed in the actuator blade. Thus it can be seen that any movement of the index Wheel will create a corresponding movement along the guideway of the housing which in turn will cause the pin extending through the guide 72 and in contact with the actuator blade to abut the peripheral portions of the opening 74 and thereby impart movement to the actuator blade. Upon imparting this motion to the blade, the cylindrical and oblong projections 54 and 56 extending between the horizontal vanes will eflect movement to the end portions of each vane to be angularly disposed with respect to the fixed end thereof in such a manner that the fluid flowing therebetween will be redirected.

A slot 84 is formed in the actuator blade as disclosed in FIGURE 5 and in FIGURE 7 and is positioned in such a manner that the rivet 64 will not obstruct the blade in any horizontal movement thereof.

Again referring to FIGURE 5, it is necessary in the correct operation of the redirecting of the flow of fluid between the vane structures to provide means to maintain the new location of the vanes in the desired position and accordingly to provide a means to prevent the vanes from returning to their as molded position. Therefore, to accomplish this purpose, applicant has provided a means arranged on and including the index pin 68 which comprises a spring washer 86 disposed adjacent the head portion 88 of the index pin and a flat washer 90 disposed intermediate the actuator blade and the spring washer 86 on the index pin 68. A similarly configurated head 92 is formed on the end of the pin 68 remote from head portion 88 and is in engagement with the index wheel 60. The spring washer 86 reacting against the index pin head 88 and the flat washer 9t) eifects a compressive loading on the actuator blade which in turn is held firmly against the end portion 37 of the frame 26. This applied loading to the blade functions as a drag on the rotation of the index wheel transferred through the index pin and accordingly, movement of the wheel will be sufiiciently resisted by the frictional engagement of the blade with the end portion 37 of the frame.

Thus the operator, when a change in the direction of fluid flow is desired, need only apply suflicient pressure in rotating the wheel to overcome the spring washer loading on the blade. When the desired arcuate movement of the vane ends has been obtained, the vane ends will remain as positioned since the spring washer loading applied is of a greater compressive force acting on the blade end than the resiliency of the material of the vane tending to return the vane end portion back to its as molded position.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is capable of numerous other applications that would readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention, therefore, is limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A flexible vane for directing the flow of fluid flowing thereover, comprising: a base portion; a substantially rectangular end portion spaced from said base portion and having a plurality of fluid directing surfaces thereon; a flexible neck portion formed integral and substantially coextensive with said base portion and said end portion respectively; said flexible neck portion being deformable about a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to a plane coincident with at least one of said fluid directing surfaces; said flexible neck portion having a minimum cross-sectional thickness substantially less than a minimum cross-sectional thickness of said base portion and said fluid directing end portion when considered in a a plane normal to said longitudinal axis; said fluid directing end portion having a linear dimension parallel to said longitudinal axis which is substantially greater than any linear dimension of said fluid directing end portion disposed normal to said longitudinal axis; said fluid directing end portion, in a non-flexed condition having at least one of said fluid directing surfaces disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and laterally off-set with respect to said base portion whereby positive movement of said fluid directing end portion varies the angular disposition of said end portion with respect to said base portion by the flexing of said neck portion with the fluid directing end portion remaining in a substantially undistorted shape.

2. A flexible vane for directing the flow of fluid flowing thereover according to claim 1 wherein said vane is formed from a flexible material such as polypropylene.

3. A flexible vane for directing the flow of fluid flowing thereover according to claim 1 being molded in a one-piece structure wherein said fluid deflecting end portion by being laterally off-set with respect to said base portion enables said vane to be released from its mold.

4. A grill assembly comprising a frame assembly; a series of fluid directing vanes secured to said frame assembly; each of said vanes comprising a base portion, a substantially rectangular end portion spaced from said base portion and having a plurality of fluid directing surfaces thereon and a flexible neck portion formed integral and substantially coextensive with said base portion and said end portion respectively; said flexible neck portion being deformable about a longitudinal axis disposed substantially parallel to a plane coincident with at least one of said fluid directing surfaces; said flexible neck portion having a minimum cross-sectional thickness substantially less than a minimum cross-sectional thickness of either said base portion or said fluid directing end portion when considered in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis; said fluid directing end portion, in a non-flexed condition having at least one of said fluid directing surfaces disposed in a plane substantially parallel to: said longitudinal axis and laterally ofi-set with respect to said base portion; a first means mounted on said frame member engageable with one end of said vane end portions; a second means connected to said first means operable to affect a movement therein upon movement of said second means; said first means being operable to arcuately move said end portions of said vanes so as to angularly dispose said end portions about said base portions by a flexing of said neck portion.

5. A grill assembly comprising a frame assembly, a first series of parallel arranged fluid deflecting vanes and a second series of parallel arranged fluid deflecting vanes integral with said frame assembly, each of said vanes comprising a base portion, an end portion and a neck portion disposed therebetween, said base portion having a cross-sectional thickness substantially the same as said end portion with said end portion having a substantial area thereon forming a fluid deflecting surface, said neck portion having a thickness substantially reduced with respect to said end portion said end portions of said first series of vanes being disposed adjacent to and in overlapping relation With said base portions of said second series of vanes such that the fluid being deflected thereby is directed through said first and said second series of vanes respectively and means engageable with one end of each of said series of vanes to arcuately position said end portions about said base portions by a flexing action of said neck portion.

6. A grille assembly comprising a first frame member having a pair of sets of vanes being substantially horizontally directed and secured to said frame, a second frame member having a pair of sets of vanes being substantially vertically directed and secured to said frame, said first and second frames being secured together such that the pair of sets of the horizontally directed vanes are laterally spaced from the pair of sets of the vertically directed vanes, separate actuating means mounted on said frames for controlling vane movement of each respective series of vanes, each of said means comprising an actuator blade and an index Wheel, said actuator blade being engageable with an axial end of each of said vanes of said respective series to simultaneously move said vanes in an identical direction, said vanes comprising a base portion, an end portion and a neck portion integral therewith, said base portion having a cross-sectional thickness substantially the same as said end portion with said end portion having a substantial area thereon forming a fluid deflecting surface, said neck portion having a thickness substantially reduced with respect to said end portion, each of said actuator blades arcuately moves said vane end portions of each vane of said respective series about said secured base portions through a flexing of said neck portions.

7. A grille assembly according to claim 6 wherein said vanes of said first frame are integral therewith and said vanles of said second frame member are integral therewit References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 967,095 Wenink Aug. 9, 1910 2,735,351 Abrahamsen Feb. 21, 1956 2,935,926 Parrish May 10, 1960 3,019,486 Stinson Feb. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 718,400 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1954 

1. A FLEXIBLE VANE FOR DIRECTING THE FLOW OF FLUID FLOWING THEREOVER, COMPRISING: A BASE PORTION; A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR END PORTION SPACED FROM SAID BASE PORTION AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF FLUID DIRECTION SURFACES THEREON; A FLEXIBLE NECK PORTION FORMED INTEGRAL AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID BASE PORTION AND SAID END PORTION RESPECTIVELY; SAID FLEXIBLE NECK PORTION BEING DEFORMABLE ABOUT A LONGITUDINAL AXIS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO A PLANE COINCIDENT WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FLUID DIRECTING SURFACES; SAID FLEXIBLE NECK PORTION HAVING A MINIMUM CROSS-SECTIONAL THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN A MINIMUM CROSS-SECTIONAL THICKNESS OF SAID BASE PORTION AND SAID FLUID DIRECTING END PORTION WHEN CONSIDERED IN A A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS; SAID FLUID DIRECTING END PORTION HAVING A LINEAR DIMENSION PARALLEL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN ANY LINEAR DIMENSION OF SAID FLUID DIRECTING END PORTION DISPOSED NORMAL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS; SAID FLUID DIRECTING END PORTION, IN A NON-FLEXED CONDITION HAVING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FLUID DIRECTING SURFACES DISPOSED IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND LATERALLY OFF-SET WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE PORTION WHEREBY POSITIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID FLUID DIRECTING END PORTION VARIES THE ANGULAR DISPOSITION OF SAID END PORTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE PORTION BY THE FLEXING OF SAID NECK PORTION WITH THE FLUID DIRECTING END PORTION REMAINING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY UNDISTORTED SHAPE. 